Overview
- Clips on TikTok and Instagram showing fireworks over the Brooklyn Bridge were either AI-generated or misrepresented July 4 videos circulated as New Year’s Eve content.
- Brooklyn Bridge Park confirmed no fireworks were scheduled and said an inaccurate social media post prompted people to gather at a specific spot.
- Crowds counted down to midnight expecting a display, then left without incident after none appeared, according to officials and widely shared eyewitness videos.
- Event listings amplified the rumor, with Time Out New York later editing a recommendation and Secret NYC deleting a post that had promoted the park as a viewing location.
- Some attendees and commenters said they relied on viral creators, prank posts, or even ChatGPT prompts for guidance about where to watch a show that did not exist.